[ *3 ] 
By four different fpecimens in that valuable col- 
fedfion of animals, which the directors of the Hud- 
fon’s Biy Company have lately procured from a 
country unvilited but by their own fervants, it ap- 
pears that the change begins in October (or perhaps 
the latter end of September) and that it is compleat- 
ed in January. 
We owe this knowledge of the regular grada- 
tions of colour in this animal at different intervals 
as the winter advances, to the very fenfible attention 
in the company’s fervants, who have tied memoran- 
dums to the lpecimen of each animal, which in- 
form us of the day and month in which it was, 
caught. 
If the fur of your quadruped- is accurately exa- 
mined, it will be found to confift of two diffindt 
coats of hair, one of which is much more thinly 
fcattered over the body, but is more than twice the 
length of the in moil covering, at the fame time that 
it is vaflly ffronger. 
This upper and thinner coat is compofed alfo of 
hairs which are white from the top to the root, and 
form the winter furtout for the animal : its brown fur* 
therefore, never becomes white, but is concealed by 
the upper coat. 
This additional covering feems to be abfolutely 
neceffary for the animal’s prefervation, as it is there- 
by enabled to endure the rigour of a Hudfon’s Bay 
winter, whilft at the fame time the colour of the 
new fur being white, prevents its being diftinguifhed 
by its very numerous enemies [g]. 
If this furtout, however, was not to fall off during 
the lurnmer, it would prove the deftrudlion of the 
animal ; 
